Geological Evolution and Mysteries and Theories Help to Explain Animal Evolution

Over the past few centuries, humans have been questioning and debating over what makes evolution true. In Jerry Coyne’s work, Why Evolution is True, he noted two kinds of evidence from Darwin’s theory of evolution. The first evidence includes the six testable predictions of evolution: evolution, gradualism, speciation, common-ancestry, natural selection, and nonselective mechanisms of evolutionary change. The second evidence that Coyne noted in his work is the retrodiction. In Coyne’s work, Why Evolution is True, a retrodiction is the facts and data that are not necessarily predicted by the theory of evolution but it makes sense only in the light of the theory of evolution. Retrodiction uses present theories to explain events that happens in the past. Since evolution is a slow process, theories could not be tested. Therefore, we explain the existence of vestigial structures and how humans share a common ancestor with fish through the theory of evolution. Throughout the text, examples of retrodiction are the imperfect adaptation of a panda’s thumb and gill slits in the beginning stages of a human embryo. Common ancestry is proven by the existence of fossils and these evidences proves that evolution is true.

At the beginning of his book “Your Inner Fish” Neil Shubin asks this question: “How can we visualize events that happened millions, and, in many cases, billions of years ago?” There were no eyewitnesses, Shubin says, no humans were around. The percentage of organisms that have been fossilized is very small and only certain species will ever be fossilized because of where they were located. However, this information did not intimidate Shubin on his hunt for his precious fish bones. Neil ties in the theory of evolution to explain how although life on Earth is widely diverse, all species have common ancestors. With the fish bones, he aimed to show how evolution caused one of the great transitions life has ever made- the transition from the ocean to land. Shubin, after six years, finds what he was looking for with the discovery of the fossil named Tiktaalik. This particular fossil is an intermediate between fish and primitive land-living animal.1

Evolution is the key thread running throughout this text, signifying its importance to the author and readers. It is emphasized greatly because that is how we understand ourselves, our past, present and even the future. Through evolution we have discovered when the first organisms came around and how modifications led to the first fish to migrate to land about 375 million years

Part 2) Explain and evaluate the significance of the evidence given to justify this phylogeny. Using the relationship between jaw bone, size, brain and body weight, etc.

The fossil of Tiktaalik confirmed a major prediction of paleontology in that it showed characteristics of both aquatic animals, such as fish, and land animals, such as reptiles and amphibians. While it had fins and scales, it also had a flexible neck, a flat head, and complex bone structure in its fins that correspond with the structure of the legs of terrestrial animals. Thus, it demonstrates the evolutionary transition between aquatic and terrestrial life.

The article “Catching Evolution in Action,” demonstrates that modern day science are beginning to look at the evolutionary biology not only through observations but also in the experimental form. In the case of experimentation, biologists study the evolutionary changes in the “guppies” in streams. In the past, evolution was considered by scientists only to be observed and drawing conclusion and hypothesis through deduction and induction techniques (“Catching Evolution in Action”). However, those procedures started to change because scientists today are able to produce experiments in nature unlike previous general studies of animals. By conducting experiments through controlling their selection of what they will observe, scientists have the

Station 4 shows us a fossil record of past marine animals. Block 2 was proven to be older as it had more sea life. As a result, Block 1 is an accurate image of the Earth after the first animals made it to land. Therefore, Station 4 allows us to firmly conclude that animals did in fact arise from the oceans. Station 3 displays 2 preserved eels and one preserved salamander. It was shown that the Congo eel was more closely related to the salamander than to the other eel. In a way, Station 3 is an extension of Station 4, in that Station 3 shows the rise of animals from water to land and Station 4 shows the ascension of the amphibious creatures from semi-land to land. Station 4 allows us to conclude that animals did in fact rise from the oceans to land. Therefore, both Station 3 and 4 confirm the Theory of

Biological evolution is an ongoing process defined as ‘descent with modification’. Theories of evolution are founded upon the central concept that all life on Earth has a common ancestor. By the transformation of species throughout time, including changes within a species and the origin of new species, this ancestor gave life to the diversity of organisms seen today (Losos, 2015). This diversity includes changes in gene frequency between generations, or the descent of various species from a common ancestor over many generations (Museum of Paleontology). The fundamental model of evolution is deduced from fossil records and evolutionary change (natural selection), and inferred by the examination of phylogeny. Therefore, evolution is summarised

The greatest test of ANY scientific theory is in its usefulness as a predictive tool. In this case, as with others, the Theory of Evolution has performed

In our studies of Intelligent Design (ID) theory and Creation Science, I found little information that seriously challenged the theory of evolution. However, there was one event that appeared to defy the logic of Darwinian gradualism: the Cambrian Explosion. This event was presented by ID theorists as proof of design--something which science is unable to account for. Unfortunately for ID proponents, this is not the case. There are several scientific explanations for the Cambrian Explosion. I will give an account of the Cambrian Explosion, present the ID arguments relating to it, and give some scientific explanations of the event.

Analyzing fossils is a difficult task. Fossils are the most important resources for scientists when it comes to researching about prehistoric life. Their information can educate society about their past.

Although the evolutionary theory may be dubbed out of date and incorrect for the current time period, there is still evidence supporting it, such as the scientific method. This method is used through systematic

Although modern evolutionists are thought to be divided on the issues surrounding evolutionary theory, a close look at the evidence suggests that both the gradualist school of thought and the punctuationist school of thought share many characteristics in common. This is especially true when evaluating their beliefs about the fossil record, disagreement with the theory of saltation, and the misinterpretation of the word “rapid” in terms of punctuationist theory. Although this may be the case, the two theories do diverge on one important point, the notion of periods of stasis, but when taken as a whole, the evidence suggests that punctuationism is not as radical as it has been hyped up to be.

This paper will explore the theory of evolution and its main contributing species. The Australopithecus is the most primitive common ancestor between humans and apes. Though its contributions to evolution were few, it was still a vital part in evolution being the first ape-like creatures to be known as related to modern humans. Homo sapiens are the first species that share a genus with modern humans. They are slightly more advanced than Australopithecines. Homo erectus are one of the better known of the genus Homo. Finally, Homo neanderthalensis, our closest relatives. The fossils found, the structure and the disappearance of these species will be discussed in further detail throughout this paper.

Many research scientists virtually agree as to the importance of an elucidation of evolutionary mechanisms as the unification for acquisition and assumption of information concerning the origin, history, and diversity of life on earth. Evolution is construed as an overall gradual development of living organisms from differentiated pre-historic to current times. It represents the process whereby modern organisms descend from ancient ancestors. Across decades of years, evidence from innumerable sources have indicated that the concepts put forth by Jean Baptiste de Lamarck and Charles Darwin represents the base of scientific research in the field of evolution. However, there are circumstantial evidence which proves that Darwin’s theoretical beliefs